Try This For Getting Over a Break Up: The Emotional Palate Cleanser (A Tip From How I Met Your Mother)

Last night I caught the latest episode of How I Met Your Mother, and first of all, can I just say it is inspiring me to get the heck on with my own life? Because Ted's inability to just get over Robin already has made me realize that I am probably boring all my friends to tears (sorry buddies!). But I did catch an interesting tip for surviving a break up in there...

Ouch, this photo is from when she told him she didn't love him.

If you didn’t watch, the gist of the storyline was that Ted was trying to move on by dating new girls, but they kept reminding him of Robin (being Canadian, drinking scotch). So he tried to go extreme by dating a girl who was completely the opposite of Robin as a palate cleanser. It didn’t work, because Ted is obsessive and kind of lame. OK, harsh, but let’s forget about him for a minute.

I totally get this idea. When you’ve broken up with someone you love, everything reminds you of your ex and that can be so painful. I recently refused to go out with a guy who was studying Russian, because my ex spoke fluent Russian, and speaking the same language means they are exactly alike, right? So rational. Come to think of it, hilariously drunk Marshall in this episode, who needed subtitles to be understood, also reminded me of my ex when he was drinking. (A friend of mine used to say he “spoke in tongues” after too much whiskey. Hot!)

It’s worthwhile to consider going on a date with a guy who doesn't remind you in any way of your former flame. You'll clear your head, get a good glimpse of who else is out there, and make new memories. But be careful: if you go too far in the opposite direction of your usual taste, it could have the unintended effect of making you want to run back to your ex. However, a fun fling with a guy you wouldn’t normally go for could be just the ticket to forgetting all about the past and moving into your future.

Have you ever had an emotional palate cleanser after a break up? Does your current guy remind you of any exes?